GSM’s are growing popular.
Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro – the three heritage varieties of the Barossa Valley – when blended in this varietal order produce a style of warm climate red that has steadily grown in popularity.
GSM blend’s origins trace back to the Rhone Valley, France. There Grenache is a favoured variety used for centuries in reds and the expensive Chateauneuf du Pape. Strange that the winemakers of the Barossa Valley took well into the 1990s to begin promoting Grenache via GSM’s. Fortunately they are catching up fast.
The three varieties are remarkably different. If you enjoy Barossa Shiraz then include it with Grenache and Mataro (also known as Mourvedre). While a good Barossa vintage favours all three varieties Benjamin, now in his 18th vintage, noted how in some vintages always using Grenache as the major variety masked other profoundly interesting blends.
Thus was born the Three Hares chasing each other. The image above, shows their heads near its centre. The animals each appear to have two ears. Yet only three ears are depicted. The ears form a triangle at the centre of the circle. Two hares share each ear. Clever.
From Christian churches in the English county of Devon right back along the Silk Road to China, via western and eastern Europe and the Middle East. And now to South Australia’s Barossa Valley!
Three different GSM blends
To illustrate this idea for the 2020 vintage Benjamin created three blends. They create positive changes to the role of each variety in the three. These are currently available on the site.
Choose between the three variations:
Three Hares No.1 Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2020 (15.2 alc/v) $14.90
Three Hares No.2 Barossa Valley Mataro Grenache Shiraz 2020 (15.2 alc/v) $14.90
Three Hares No.3 Barossa Valley Shiraz Mataro Grenache 2020 (15.3 alc/v) $14.90
